PARENTS And Children Together (PACT) will hold a special Brighton event for anyone interested in finding out more about LGBT adoption.
The event, on Saturday, March 10, which is being held to help mark national LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, will feature a question and answer session with a panel of PACT LGBT adopters. LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week runs from March 5 -11.
PACT supports families across the south-east through adoption, award-winning therapeutic support and community projects, actively recruits LGBT adopters and 35 per cent of people who adopted with PACT in 2017 were from the LGBT communities.
The agency’s Brighton office, which specialises in LGBT adoption but also welcomes heterosexual adopters, is organising the event for people who are considering adoption or who are in the process of adopting.
The panel of adopters will share their adoption stories and answer questions about their experiences of adoption. There will also be opportunities for people to talk individually with experienced adopters and PACT social workers as well as to meet other prospective adopters over refreshments.
Mark and Laurence, who adopted a sister and brother through PACT in 2016, are among the adopters taking part in the panel.
The couple said: “This event is a great opportunity for anyone considering adoption to find out what it’s really like from people like us who have been through it and now have two amazing children and a fantastic family life as a result.
“We’re really looking forward to sharing our story and answering any questions that people might have, in the hope this can inspire more people to take the first step towards starting or extending a family through adoption.
“We couldn’t imagine our lives without children now and it all started with an initial enquiry with PACT. This has been an amazing journey for us and if it is something that you are considering, when the time is right for you, PACT will be there to hold your hand throughout every stage.”
PACT Chief Executive Jan Fishwick OBE says: “One of the best ways for anyone thinking about adoption to find out more is to talk with people who have already adopted. This event offers an ideal chance for people to speak to and ask questions of some of our inspirational families and our expert staff.
“We are extremely proud to be supporting national LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week again, and we look forward to working with many more wonderful LGBT adopters this year.”
Event: LGBT Adoption Event during LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week
Where: Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton
When: Saturday, March 10
Time: 2pm – 4.30pm
Cost: Free event – light refreshments will be served.
To book a place at the event call 0300 456 4800 or email: enquiries@pactcharity.org
PACT is one of the leading adoption charities in the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) in terms of placing more children with loving families. In 2017 PACT placed 82 children with 56 PACT families through its adoption services.